Dave’s Hot Chicken – Worcester, MA

Worcester — New England’s second-largest city, and home to a cluster of colleges including Clark, WPI, and Holy Cross — has its Dave’s Hot Chicken on Park Avenue, a central spot that’s easy to reach from most of the city.

This is the latest-closing location on this list — 2 AM on Thursdays and Fridays, which lines up well with Worcester’s college-town nightlife. The rest of the week it closes at midnight. The menu is standard across all locations: Hot Chicken Tenders and Sliders at seven spice levels, combo’d with fries, and sides like kale slaw and mac and cheese. Dine-in, ordering ahead in the app, curbside pickup, or delivery through the major apps are all options. Given the late Thursday and Friday hours, it’s a popular stop after events or late study sessions for the city’s college crowd.

Worcester Prices and the Meals Tax

Massachusetts taxes restaurant meals at 6.25%, and Worcester adds the 0.75% local meals tax, so food here is taxed at 7% in total. That keeps an order a bit cheaper than in New York or Washington. At the chain’s September 2026 starting prices:

• Dave’s #3 (1 Tender & 1 Slider w/ Fries): $16.09 on the menu, about $17.22 at checkout
• Dave’s #1 (2 Tenders w/ Fries): $14.89 on the menu, about $15.93 at checkout
• Single Tender: $4.99 on the menu, about $5.34 at checkout
• #3 with a regular drink: about $20.52

The Park Ave store keeps late hours, which is handy if you’re a student at one of the nearby colleges. If you’re feeding a few people, compare a Hot Box against individual combos before you order.

Every item and price is on our menu with prices page, and the catering page explains Hot Box sizes. For other stores, see all Dave’s Hot Chicken locations.

Frequently asked

Why is it open until 2 AM on some nights?
Thursday and Friday run later than the rest of the week — common for areas with a big student population.

Is it near any of the colleges?
Park Ave is central enough to reach Clark, WPI, and Holy Cross within a short drive.

Drive-thru?
Not currently listed — dine-in, takeout, curbside, and delivery.

Hours can shift around holidays, so it’s worth checking the official store page first.

Independent guide — not affiliated with Dave’s Hot Chicken.